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A friend of mine, Scott Rodgers, came up with the phrase above while watching Mississippi sports when we were growing up. The CSI phrase can describe a game, a season, or a player. It means that a team cannot stand to win, end a losing streak, or prosperity.
Can’t Stand It moments happen in all sports, but we mainly used it in football. There are teams that always seem to never live up to the hype, and they live in the CSI zone.
South Florida’s mid-season collapses lately has made them a frequent visitor to the CSI zone. Another example would be Oregon State last season.
The Beavers only needed to beat their Pac-10 rivals Oregon to win the conference and play in a BCS game. Instead, Oregon State was pounded 65-38 at home by the Ducks. USC was able to tie for the conference title and play in the BCS game.
Staying in the realm of college football, here are our CSI nominees for 2009:
Nominees for preseason CSI team
Teams thought highly of before the start of the season, but proved that they Can Stand It: the rankings and the hype that comes with big early season wins.
Mississippi (Ole Miss) Rebels
The Rebels started the season ranked inside the Top Ten, this season ranked eighth in the AP Top 25 poll, and No. 10 in the USA Today poll. Mississippi was favored to be a major player not only in the SEC, but the West division as well.
Ole Miss found their first CSI moment in the third game of the year against South Carolina. The highly praised Rebels offense could not get on track against the Gamecocks defense.
Mississippi continued its CSI season against Alabama two weeks later. The Rebels worked their way back into the Top 25, only to pull another CSI moment against an Auburn team that was on a three game losing streak.
Illinois Fighting Illini
The Illini did not start the preseason in the Top 25. but did receive votes in both polls. Illinois was thought to contend for the Big Ten title.
The preseason hype led to the Illini’s CSI season. Until beating Michigan last week, Illinois had not beaten an FBS team all season long.
The biggest CSI moment of the year came in the first game of the year when a rebuilding Missouri team took them to the wood shed. One could also argue that a three week stretch of losses against Michigan State, Purdue, and Indiana was a big CSI moment.
Nebraska Cornhuskers
The Cornhuskers started the season out at No. 24 in the AP Top 25, and No. 22 in the USA Today poll. Nebraska wanted to spend this season showing they are back as a national power.
Instead the Cornhuskers have fallen out of the Top 25, and have several questionable losses. The biggest CSI moment for Nebraska was a loss to Iowa State.
This is the first time the Cornhuskers have lost to the Cyclones in since 1977. Iowa State was also without their starting quarterback, and running back. That Top 25 ranking now looks so far in the past for this once proud program.
California Golden Bears
The Bears started this season as one of the favorites in the Pac-10. Many believed Cal could challenge USC for the conference title. The thought was backed up with a 12th raking in both polls to start the season.
Two straight weeks showed the Bears are a perfect CSI team. California was outscored by Oregon and USC by a combined 72-6.
For all the preseason hype, the Golden Bears just can’t stand it when it comes to being a top team in conference. Those two games were the biggest on Cal’s schedule this season.
Georgia Bulldogs
Even with all the talent lost from last year’s team, the Bulldogs were ranked 13th ranking in both polls. Georgia started out the season with a big game against a Top-10, at the time, Oklahoma State team and played well.
From that point the wheels have come off this team with three other losses this season. The biggest CSI moment for Georgia was a beat down by a Tennessee team that looked horrible on offense, until they meet the Bulldogs defense.
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